This book describes the methodologies and tools used to conduct social cyber forensic analysis.
By applying these methodologies and tools on various events observed in the case studies
contained within their effectiveness is highlighted. They blend computational social network
analysis and cyber forensic concepts and tools in order to identify and study information
competitors. Through cyber forensic analysis metadata associated with propaganda-riddled
websites are extracted. This metadata assists in extracting social network information such as
friends and followers along with communication network information such as networks depicting
flows of information among the actors such as tweets replies retweets mentions and
hyperlinks. Through computational social network analysis the authors identify influential
actors and powerful groups coordinating the disinformation campaign. A blended social cyber
forensic approach allows them to study cross-media affiliations of the information competitors.
For instance narratives are framed on blogs and YouTube videos and then Twitter and Reddit
for instance will be used to disseminate the message. Social cyber forensic methodologies
enable researchers to study the role of modern information and communication technologies
(ICTs) in the evolution of information campaign and coordination. In addition to the concepts
and methodologies pertaining to social cyber forensics this book also offers a collection of
resources for readers including several datasets that were collected during case studies
up-to-date reference and literature surveys in the domain and a suite of tools that students
researchers and practitioners alike can utilize. Most importantly the book demands a dialogue
between information science researchers public affairs officers and policy makers to prepare
our society to deal with the lawless wild west of modern social information systems triggering
debates and studies on cyber diplomacy.
